Šutanovac: Hague one of priorities

Šutanovac: Hague one of priorities

In an interview to the Odbrana (Defense) magazine, Šutanovac said his "judgment was very clear" - that all indictees before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) must face the law.

He added that, based on his legal authorization and within the Defense Ministry and the Serbian Army, he would do everything to carry out this judgment, Beta news agency reports.

"I especially want to stress that both I, and the top military echelons, are aware of my legal obligations, but the issue of the Hague indictees is in fact the problem of civilian security structures, and I will not allow the problem to be hung on the Army," the defense minister said.

He announced that, in the shortest time possible, he would launch activities "showing the clear commitment of the Defense Ministry and Army to take part in resolving the issue efficiently."

Šutanovac also said he would continue with reforms in the Army and his ministry.

He rated that, when it comes to establishing an optimum and efficient military, the reforms were nearly completed and that they must be brought to an end by mid-year.

"At the same time, important and voluminous work lies ahead in the reform of the Defense Ministry, and this will be my priority," the defense minister said.

He included the establishing of a rational and efficient intelligence and security defense system among his ministry's priorities, deeming this an important segment of establishing the overall intelligence system of Serbia.

Šutanovac reminded that the intelligence-security system of the Defense Ministry was now composed of the Military Intelligence Agency, the Military Security Agency, intelligence-reconnaissance and Army units.

New legislation will integrate the military intelligence and security agencies, he said.